We're back ... After a vacation hiatus and getting through the first two weeks of training camp, New Orleans Hornets beat writers John Reid and Jimmy Smith will again offer their opinions on a weekly question surrounding the Hornets, inviting your input as well.

This week we ask: Will the Hornets be a lottery team this season or a playoff team?

Weigh in with your thoughts after reading what our beat writers have to say.

REID: I think this team will make a serious run toward staying in playoff contention for the eighth playoff seed, but I still think they are a year away from making the postseason because of their youth. The Hornets will get around 38 wins before moving in the 45 range next season. With eight new players, it's going to take the Hornets time to jell and they are going to have trouble beating top-tier teams in the Western Conference such as the Oklahoma City, Lakers, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers. But this roster is going to cause teams matchup problems. Forward Ryan Anderson can extend defenses with his 3-point shooting. Forward Anthony Davis is going to be a force in the lane. Guard Austin Rivers is going to emerge as an attacking guard who can set up shooters. But the Hornets will need starting shooting guard Eric Gordon for the entire 82-game season and he's already missed the first two weeks of the preseason because of a sore right knee. Defense is going to be the team's strength again, but Hornets' offensive execution is going to be a work in progress for the opening month of the season. SMITH: What we've seen so far in just two exhibition games tells me if the Hornets are to qualify for the postseason this year, it will be a race for the eighth spot in the Western Conference. But face it, folks. It's a long shot. So much will depend on whether the team stays healthy, and the fact that franchise max player Eric Gordon has yet to participate in a training camp contact practice could be a bad omen. Certainly the Hornets are erring on the side of caution with Gordon's sore knee, but there has to be some concern when the same troublesome knee that cost Gordon all but nine games in 66 last year is bothering him again, after arthroscopic surgery and rehab. That said, a healthy Gordon, with a lineup of healthy bodies around him, could make for an interesting year. Rookie Anthony Davis has enormous potential, as does rookie Austin Rivers. The front-line additions of Robin Lopez and Ryan Anderson appear to have upgraded the positions. Whether the Hornets can get their young players to contribute quality backup minutes could be the season's defining factor. From here, though, it's likely another trip to the lottery. Which might not be all that bad considering what happened this year.